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Sunday, August 7, 2011

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA-- SEA SHELL WREATH

BREAKING NEWS: This evening at 7pm eastern time, Lois Winston, the author who writes about my life, will be part of an author mystery panel on Giovanni Gelati's GZONE blogspot radio show. The panel will also include fellow Midnight Ink authors Beth Groundwater, Alice Loweecey, and Sebastian Stuart. You can listen to the show live or go to the website and listen to the archived broadcast later. 
Now back to our regularly scheduled Monday craft. -- AP
For many of us, summertime means trips down the shore (if you live in New Jersey) or to the beach (if you live in other parts of the country.) No matter what you call it, though, you’ll probably come home with bags of seashells. So what do you do with all those shells once you get home? Instead of dumping them on a shelf or in a closet, use them in craft projects. Over the next few weeks, I’ll show you how to make all sorts of shell crafts to create lasting memories of that summer seaside trip. -- AP

SEASHELL WREATH

Materials: 6” flat Styrofoam wreath, 3 yds. 7/8” wide flat white lace, 5” 3/8” wide white ribbon, 3/4” white plastic hanging ring, tacky glue, hot glue gun and glue sticks, assorted shells,

1. Wrap the lace around the wreath, overlapping and pulling the lace taught as you wrap. Wrap until the wreath is covered. Trim excess lace and glue end at back.

2. Thread ribbon through hanging ring. Fold ribbon in half and glue cut edges together. Glue ends of ribbon to back of wreath, securing with several sequin pins.

3. Hot glue shells to front of wreath over lace, varying the direction and size of shells.

Look for more simple shell crafts in the weeks to come. -- AP

8 comments:

Liz V. said...

Have been forwarding shell crafts to beach-going friends with children. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

I've always loved picking up shells and decorating my home with them. As a lunchaide for first graders, I now find that they make good prizes for games. I had picked up some large 8 inch whelk shells on vacation once and the kids went nuts for them when I brought them into school.

Kathy Nycz

ANASTASIA POLLACK said...

Look for more shell crafts in the Mondays to come, Liz.

Kathy, what a great idea for kids' prizes!

Cathy Shouse said...

I've got a bag of shells I thought about giving away and you've made me see they are screaming to be used for a craft.

Unfortunately, I am deadly with a glue gun. lol This wreath sounds simple to make and is pretty. Maybe I'll get my crafty neighbor to help.

Liz V. said...

Just heard from one friend at the beach. No shells! Thinks they're buried under a beach replenishment project. Luckily, the days have been glorious, with no need for rainy day projects, and I have some shells to spare when they come home. So, I'll keep collecting ideas. Thanks.

ANASTASIA POLLACK said...

Cathy, invest in a low-temp glue gun. They're a lot less deadly. ;-)

That's too bad, Liz, but it's great that the days are rain-free. There are few things worse on vacation than rainy days down the shore, especially if you have kids in tow.

Cathy Shouse said...

Thanks for the helpful tip on the low-temp gun, Anastasia. I had thought this shell wreath would be perfect as a mother-daughter project with my 11-year-old, but was afraid I might hurt her.

Someone who occasionally singes themselves with their curling iron has no business with a high-temp glue gun. :)

Cathy Shouse said...

Oops, I meant "themself." I don't have multiple personalities, that I know of.